Vanessa S.
Certified Peer Supporter · Hesperia, CA
I'm a Certified Peer Support Specialist dedicated to walking alongside people through life's hardest seasons. With lived experience across recovery, loss, and resilience, I bring understanding without judgment. I help…
average from 50 reviews
group meetings hosted
one-on-one sessions
supporting peers on HeyPeers since
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About Vanessa
I'm Vanessa Spagnolo—a Certified Peer Support Specialist, registered alcohol and drug technician, and trained CalMHSA peer support instructor. My work is grounded in lived experience: I've navigated recovery from substance use, rebuilt my life after incarceration, survived domestic violence, weathered multiple devastating losses, and managed PTSD, anxiety, and depression. That journey taught me something I couldn't have learned any other way: how to sit with someone in their darkest moment and help them see a way forward. Talk therapy saved my life. Having a safe space to be honest without judgment—to cry, to rage, to be broken and be met with compassion—changed everything. Now I create that space for others. I'm here for you whether you're navigating grief, rebuilding after addiction, healing from trauma, managing mental health, figuring out parenting, or just need someone who truly understands. My experiences weren't wasted on me—they're now a resource for you.
My Recovery Story
The turning point for me was finding talk therapy—a space where I could be completely honest without fear. Crying without shame. Speaking truths I couldn't say anywhere else. Being heard, not fixed. That experience taught me that sometimes people don't need advice; they need witness. They need someone who says, "I believe you. I see your pain. And you're not alone in this." That's what I want to offer.
My Motivation To Help
Losing my soul mate and a close friend both to suicide cracked something open in me—a realization that peer support could save lives. That understanding grew deeper with each challenge I survived: a traumatic accident, the loss of my father, and the devastating loss of my son to fentanyl. These weren't just hardships to me—they became a calling. Every loss taught me that isolation kills and connection heals. That's why I do this work. If my journey can ease someone else's pain, give them hope, or help them find their way back—then my experiences have meaning beyond my own survival.
My Chatrooms
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Self-Care Chat Room 186 membersSign in to join
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Grief and Loss 1595 membersSign in to join
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What peers say about Vanessa
based on 50 ratings
"Very nice Host and I was welcomed in. I was able to even laugh. And that was needed. The host was able to connect my stories to tbi similarity and learning examples. I felt welcomed and enjoyed the time. Look forward to being in the next one."
Troy D.
Family & Friends · October 2026
"Vanessa and Shawna are compassionate and empathetic around TBI friends and Families. They work well together. Very informative and willing to help and share."
Apryl H.
Family & Friends · August 2026
"Vanessa was a good group leader very passionate about helping others "
Taylor C.
Living with Traumatic Brain Injury · March 2026
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